Silent War (WWII sub campaign dynasty)

[WSUCougar]

April, 1942, Week 4

Seadragon, Captain Connery, sank a 1000-ton vessel in the Java Sea. Tambor (Neon Chaos) took damage there from a heavy depth-charging.

In the Coral Sea, S-37 (Cagney) sank a 1000-tonner but was subsequently damaged.

Silversides (path12) experienced mechanical problems and was forced to abort its patrol in the Carolines. Despite ULTRA reports, Triton (BYU14) could sink no targets there, either, and was damaged returning to base.

But the Trout (Nielsen), moving on ULTRA information, sank a 2000-ton freighter in the Aleutians.

The Seal, Captain Hanks, has gone missing in the South China Sea and is presumed lost.

Status:
Drum (Qwikshot) – On patrol in the Aleutians
Grayling (WSUCougar) – Deployed to patrol in the Kuriles
Gato (st.cronin) – Laid up with light damage at Pearl Harbor
Pollack (Ardent) – Deployed to patrol in the Solomons
Sculpin (Mustang) - Refitting at Pearl Harbor
Seawolf (Wolfpack) – Deployed to patrol in the Marshalls
Silversides (path12) – Damaged; returning to Brisbane
Swordfish (MrBug708) – Laid up with light damage at Dutch Harbor
Tambor (Neon Chaos) – Damaged; on patrol in the Java Sea
Tautog (Warhammer) – Returning from west coast refit
Thresher (“Deacon” Harrison) – Refitting at Pearl Harbor
Triton (BYU14) - Damaged; returning to Pearl Harbor
Trout (Nielsen) – Laid up with light damage at Dutch Harbor

[ntndeacon]

finally We can go out again. moderate damage stinks! Kill all enemy Ships like a big 10000 ton one!

[Coffee Warlord]

Me and Bug are getting rip roaring drunk at Dutch Harbor while our boats are broke.

[ntndeacon]

well you gotta do something to keep warm up there.
Me, I like the warmth of Hawaii.

[WSUCougar]

May, 1942, Week 1

What a piss-poor week this was. Eight of our boats were deployed on a barrier mission in the East Indies Straits, and it ended up being a bloody fiasco. Searaven (Poe) sank a 1000-ton ship, but was subsequently damaged. Salmon, Stingray, and Perch were all attacked and damaged, mainly by enemy aircraft.

Grayling (WSUCougar) was chased off by a “diligent escort” in the Kuriles, and returned to base.

Drum (Qwikshot) was only able to damage a small merchant ship in the Aleutians.

S-35 (Del Rio) was damaged by depth charges in the North Pacific and returned to base.

Seawolf (Wolfpack) tracked a small Japanese carrier in the Marshalls but couldn’t penetrate the thick group of escorts to get off a shot.

At least we received ample reinforcements! In addition to the return of the Tautog (Warhammer), Dolphin (Marino), and Pompano (Ford) from their refits, a flock of old and new boats have arrived. At Dutch Harbor, S-27 & S-28; at Brisbane, S-43, S-45, & S-46; and at Pearl, the Nautilus and four Gato-class subs: Grouper, Growler, Trigger, & Flying Fish. (If anyone wants to upgrade their boat, let me know and I’ll hook you up. I’ll also take suggestions for new captains’ names, if you have any athletes or actors or whatever in mind.)

Status:
Drum (Qwikshot) – On patrol in the Aleutians
Grayling (WSUCougar) – Laid up with light damage at Dutch Harbor
Gato (st.cronin) – Refitting at Pearl Harbor
Pollack (Ardent) – Refitting at Brisbane
Sculpin (Mustang) - Deployed to patrol in the Marshalls
Seawolf (Wolfpack) – On patrol in the Marshalls
Silversides (path12) – Laid up with light damage at Brisbane
Swordfish (MrBug708) – Refitting at Dutch Harbor
Tambor (Neon Chaos) – Laid up with light damage at Fremantle
Tautog (Warhammer) – Deployed to patrol in the Marshalls
Thresher (“Deacon” Harrison) – Deployed to patrol in the Marshalls
Triton (BYU14) - Laid up with heavy damage at Pearl Harbor
Trout (Nielsen) – Refitting at Dutch Harbor

[WSUCougar]

May, 1942, Week 2

Captain Warhammer of the Tautog (Marshalls), Captain Gibbs of the S-18 (Aleutians), and Captain Favre in the Flying Fish (Bonins) all sank 3000-ton merchantmen for their first kills.

Sculpin (Mustang) suffered a terribly frustrating situation in the Marshalls, encountering a host of undefended Japanese merchant ships, unleashing two full spreads of torpedoes, yet hitting absolutely nothing. It was a dream set-up which turned into a nightmare. Also in the Marshalls, Thresher (“Deacon” Harrison) dodged a “diligent escort” and launched a quick-hitting attack, but missed and had to withdraw.

Captain Willis, now in the Trigger, attacked a carrier group in the Bonins, missed, and was descended upon by four destroyers. The sub barely limped away.

S-28 was destroyed by enemy aircraft in the Aleutians.

Status:
Drum (Qwikshot) – Refitting at Pearl Harbor
Grayling (WSUCougar) – Refitting at Dutch Harbor
Gato (st.cronin) – Refitting at Pearl Harbor
Pollack (Ardent) – Deployed to patrol in the Solomons
Sculpin (Mustang) - Refitting at Pearl Harbor
Seawolf (Wolfpack) – On patrol in the Marshalls
Silversides (path12) – Laid up with light damage at Brisbane
Swordfish (MrBug708) – Refitting at Dutch Harbor
Tambor (Neon Chaos) – Laid up with light damage at Fremantle
Tautog (Warhammer) – On patrol in the Marshalls
Thresher (“Deacon” Harrison) – On patrol in the Marshalls
Triton (BYU14) - Laid up with heavy damage at Pearl Harbor
Trout (Nielsen) – On patrol in the Aleutians

[WSUCougar]

Total ships sunk: 52
Total tonnage sunk: 156,000

Sunken tonnage leaders:
16,000 = Humphrey Bogart (Salmon): (3)
12,000 = Errol Flynn (Sealion ): (4)
10,000 = Henry Fonda (Porpoise): (3)
10,000 = James Garner (Sailfish): (1)
9,000 = John Wayne (Narwhal): (2)
8,000 = Mel Gibson (Grouper): (2)
8,000 = Paul Newman (Permit): (2)
7,000 = William Shatner (Pike): (3)
6,000 = James Cagney (S-37): (2)
5,000 = "Deacon" Harrison (Thresher): (2)
5,000 = Rob Nielsen (Trout): (2)
5,000 = Clint Eastwood (Snapper): (1)
5,000 = Tom Hanks (Seal): (1)*
5,000 = Bill Parcells (Tuna): (1)
4,000 = WSUCougar (Grayling): (2)
4,000 = Sean Connery (Seadragon ): (2)
4,000 = Edgar Allan Poe (Searaven ): (2)
3,000 = Sir Alec Guiness (Grenadier): (2)
3,000 = Wolfpack (Seawolf): (2)
3,000 = BYU14 (Triton): (1)
3,000 = Brett Favre (Flying Fish): (1)
3,000 = Joe Gibbs (S-18): (1)
3,000 = Robert Mitchum (tarpon): (1)
3,000 = path12 (Silversides): (1)
3,000 = Warhammer (Tautog): (1)
3,000 = Bruce Willis (Trigger): (1)
1,000 = Bill Belicheck (S-23): (1)
1,000 = Kevin Costner (Gar): (1)*
1,000 = Russell Crowe (Sargo): (1)*
1,000 = Tom Cruise (Cuttlefish): (1)
1,000 = Neon Chaos (Tambor): (1)
1,000 = James Stewart (S-38): (1)

*Lost at sea

[Warhammer]

That's right. 3000 tons straight to the bottom!

[MrBug708]

Originally Posted by Coffee Warlord

Me and Bug are getting rip roaring drunk at Dutch Harbor while our boats are broke.

I spend more time getting repaired then actually doing anything

[path12]

Originally Posted by MrBug708

I spend more time getting repaired then actually doing anything

+1

[WSUCougar]

May, 1942, Week 3

An excellent week, with 35,000 tons sunk and even the S-boats contributing.

Captain Shanahan of the S-47 started the week off with a bang, sinking a pair of enemy merchantmen for a total of 8000 tons before being damaged by enemy aircraft in the South China Sea.

Responding to ULTRA intercepts, the Seadragon (Connery) sank a 5000-ton freighter; Captain Flynn in the Sealion found a carrier group in the Banda Sea, but it was heavily defended and he had to withdraw with damage.

Also acting on intercepted intelligence, Trout (Nielsen) damaged a 5000-ton merchant ship, and eventually tracked it down and sank it in the Kurile Islands,

In the Solomons, the S-38 (Stewart) picked off a small Japanese trawler of 1000 tons. Pollack (Ardent) was fired on by an enemy sub but the torpedoes missed.

In the Marshalls, Seawolf (Wolfpack) scored the kill of the week, blowing up a 15,000-ton munitions ship (WOOT!!!) to become the sunk tonnage leader. Thresher (“Deacon” Harrison) sank a 1000-tonner and would have had a second one but for a dud torpedo.

The Pike (Shatner) has not reported and is feared lost.

Status:
Drum (Qwikshot) – Deployed to patrol in the Marshalls
Grayling (WSUCougar) – Deployed to patrol in the Aleutians
Gato (st.cronin) – Deployed to patrol in the Aleutians
Pollack (Ardent) – Refitting at Brisbane
Sculpin (Mustang) - Refitting at Pearl Harbor
Seawolf (Wolfpack) – Refitting at Pearl Harbor
Silversides (path12) – Laid up with light damage at Brisbane
Swordfish (MrBug708) – Deployed to patrol in the Aleutians
Tambor (Neon Chaos) – Refitting at Fremantle
Tautog (Warhammer) – On patrol in the Marshalls
Thresher (“Deacon” Harrison) – On patrol in the Marshalls
Triton (BYU14) - Laid up with moderate damage at Pearl Harbor
Trout (Nielsen) – Laid up with light damage at Dutch Harbor

[WSUCougar]

Total ships sunk: 59
Total tonnage sunk: 191,000

Sunken tonnage leaders:
18,000 = Wolfpack (Seawolf): (3)
16,000 = Humphrey Bogart (Salmon): (3)
12,000 = Errol Flynn (Sealion ): (4)
10,000 = Henry Fonda (Porpoise): (3)
10,000 = Rob Nielsen (Trout): (3)
10,000 = James Garner (Sailfish): (1)
9,000 = Sean Connery (Seadragon ): (3)
9,000 = John Wayne (Narwhal): (2)
8,000 = Mel Gibson (Grouper): (2)
8,000 = Paul Newman (Permit): (2)
8,000 = Mike Shanahan (S-47): (2)
7,000 = William Shatner (Pike): (3)*
6,000 = "Deacon" Harrison (Thresher): (3)
6,000 = James Cagney (S-37): (2)
5,000 = Clint Eastwood (Snapper): (1)
5,000 = Tom Hanks (Seal): (1)*
5,000 = Bill Parcells (Tuna): (1)
4,000 = WSUCougar (Grayling): (2)
4,000 = Edgar Allan Poe (Searaven ): (2)
3,000 = Sir Alec Guiness (Grenadier): (2)
3,000 = BYU14 (Triton): (1)
3,000 = Brett Favre (Flying Fish): (1)
3,000 = Joe Gibbs (S-18): (1)
3,000 = Robert Mitchum (tarpon): (1)
3,000 = path12 (Silversides): (1)
3,000 = Warhammer (Tautog): (1)
3,000 = Bruce Willis (Trigger): (1)
2,000 = James Stewart (S-38): (2)
1,000 = Bill Belicheck (S-23): (1)
1,000 = Kevin Costner (Gar): (1)*
1,000 = Russell Crowe (Sargo): (1)*
1,000 = Tom Cruise (Cuttlefish): (1)
1,000 = Neon Chaos (Tambor): (1)

*Lost at sea

[WSUCougar]

That big week was huge. Now I have a shot at retaining command, but we need to bag another 29,000 tons in the coming week. We've got some good boats out, but not so many in terms of relative quantity. Keep your fingers crossed!

[Wolfpack]

Yeah, baby! That'll help the grunts in their island-hopping!

[WSUCougar]

May, 1942, Week 4

Reacting to ULTRA intercepts in the Bonins, Drum (Qwikshot) was only able to damage an enemy ship in a heavily-escorted convoy.

We really pressed it hard in the Marshalls, but got no results and both Tautog (Warhammer) and Thresher (“Deacon” Harrison) were damaged in the process.

Stingray (McQueen) sank a 1000-ton ship in the South China Sea, Gudgeon (Damon) one in the Kuriles, and S-34 (Pitt) got one in the Solomons.

Total tonnage sunk: 194,000. At the request of the Chief of Naval Operations, I have been sacked by CINCPAC for failing to achieve 220,000 tons by the end of May 1942.

Sunken tonnage leaders:
18,000 = Wolfpack (Seawolf): (3)
16,000 = Humphrey Bogart (Salmon): (3)
12,000 = Errol Flynn (Sealion ): (4)
10,000 = Henry Fonda (Porpoise): (3)
10,000 = Rob Nielsen (Trout): (3)
10,000 = James Garner (Sailfish): (1)
9,000 = Sean Connery (Seadragon ): (3)
9,000 = John Wayne (Narwhal): (2)
8,000 = Mel Gibson (Grouper): (2)
8,000 = Paul Newman (Permit): (2)
8,000 = Mike Shanahan (S-47): (2)
7,000 = William Shatner (Pike): (3)*
6,000 = "Deacon" Harrison (Thresher): (3)
6,000 = James Cagney (S-37): (2)
5,000 = Clint Eastwood (Snapper): (1)
5,000 = Tom Hanks (Seal): (1)*
5,000 = Bill Parcells (Tuna): (1)
4,000 = WSUCougar (Grayling): (2)
4,000 = Edgar Allan Poe (Searaven ): (2)
3,000 = Sir Alec Guiness (Grenadier): (2)
3,000 = BYU14 (Triton): (1)
3,000 = Brett Favre (Flying Fish): (1)
3,000 = Joe Gibbs (S-18): (1)
3,000 = Robert Mitchum (tarpon): (1)
3,000 = path12 (Silversides): (1)
3,000 = Warhammer (Tautog): (1)
3,000 = Bruce Willis (Trigger): (1)
2,000 = James Stewart (S-38): (2)
1,000 = Bill Belicheck (S-23): (1)
1,000 = Kevin Costner (Gar): (1)*
1,000 = Russell Crowe (Sargo): (1)*
1,000 = Tom Cruise (Cuttlefish): (1)
1,000 = Matt Damon (Gudgeon): (1)
1,000 = Steve McQueen (Stingray): (1)
1,000 = Neon Chaos (Tambor): (1)
1,000 = Brad Pitt (S-34): (1)

*Lost at sea

[WSUCougar]

So I lost the game.

The early torpedo penalties are just brutal, and that severe handicap was compounded by (frankly) really shitty die-rolling.

Strategy-wise, I'm not sure if I erred, and if so, how or where. The trick is that torpedo improvement comes via # of ships sunk, while winning (or staying alive) comes via total tonnage sunk. The bigger ships are more difficult to sink, which magnifies the poor torpedo penalty. It's a tough situation.

But certainly a fun solitaire game! Thanks for the participation. I might try it again on FOFC down the road.

[path12]

Bummer. If you go again I'm in!

[Warhammer]

I think the best bet early is to go after the small cargo ships to get rid of the torpedo penalty, then go after the big fish.